Sunday Lunh

I made a bi pot roast this morning.  Seared it in hot oil, then cooked it in a roux gravy for several (4) hours.  Just like I learned at the knee of my grandfather.  I served it with mashed potatoes, english peas and brown-and-serve rolls.

After lunch, we went to second son's house to sight in deer rifles.  We got a little heavy recoil therapy with deer rifles, ad that ain't a bad way to end a weekend.

Saturday Update

Checking the news this morning, we find the usual political discourse on the Kavanaugh continuing drama.  All I can say for sure, is that a bunch of FBI agents have had their weekend disrupted purely for political purposes.    That is a damned shame.  While they're at it, they should look into who broached the confidentiality of Dr. Ford.

I've been reading Article II, just to refresh my memory, and I can't ind anywhere that the Constitution requires that a justice to the Supreme Court be a federal judge, or even an attorney.  That being the case, should the Kavanaugh nomination fail, I would recommend to the President that he nominate someone who will make the Democrats howl.  Perhaps, for example, a Jesuit priest who is also a lawyer.  I know that the local diocese has priest/lawyers who advise the diocese.

Assuming that we keep the Senate after the midterms, it might be a good time to make the Democrats howl.  Nominate someone who is more conservative than Kavanaugh, more conservative than Scalia.

All this aside, I'm hosting a club shoot in a couple of hours, so it's probably time to go turn the range on and let the AC units cool it down.  Y'all have a great weekend.

Flake Flips and Can We trust the FBI

Senator Jeff Flake, flipped today in a highly dramatic fashion ad got the Senate to agree to an FBI investigation of the sexual allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.  Good for him.  He's retiring.  Very good.

In retrospect, that might be the right thing to do.  It might clear up some questions, though I doubt it.

I'm sure that before many more hours elapse, someone is going to be knocking on Dr. Ford's door.  She will have to re-live this nightmare all over again.  But, hey, if it makes the Democrats feel better, it will probably be worth it.  And that's what this is all about; helping the Democrats to feel better .

That is, if you can trust anything that the FBI says.  They're the ones who couldn't find enough evidence to arrest Hillary after they found classified data on an insecure server.  But, they might bed heaven ad earth to find something, anything on Kavanaugh, because that would better serve their Democrat overlords.

The larger question is; can we trust the FBI?   Personally, I don't think that they can track a white elephant up a muddy creek bank.

I Don't Understand

Watching the confirmation hearings yesterday, I rally don't understand how the Democrats have sunk so low.  Evidently, the Democrats from the South are different from the ones from the North or the West.

Growing up in Louisiana, the Democrats reigned supreme.  Conservative, rural, agricultural, they resisted change for the sake of change.  Oh, guys like Huey and Earl would promise a chicken in every pot, and tried to help the little guy, but they were basically rational people who understood the basic difference between right and wrong.  They played by the rules.

Probably our most interesting governor of the modern age, Edwin Edwards, was a Democrat.  Many called him crooked, but he was beloved many people.  Belle would vote for him tomorrow if she had the opportunity.  Of course, Edwards wound up going to the federal pen for corruption, but he didn't complain about it.

Even as late as the early part of this century, we had the Blue Dog Democrats.  A group of conservative or moderate Democrats who served in Congress.  What I saw yesterday was the very worst display of close-minded arrogance I've ever seen.  The local Democrats may be colorful and amusing, but I believe that they're basically fair-minded people.

Unlike the display we saw yesterday.  From Stephen Green

It's been a show unlike anything we've ever seen, exposing for anyone willing to see just how venal and corrupt the Left has become, and how much they despise Constitutional government and simple standards of decency.

I mourn decency and civil discourse.  The Senate is supposed to be a debating society.

Watching the Hearing

I watched the hearing today.  It was a tear-jerker, with Dr. Ford coming forth as a compelling witness.  What was most compelling to me is that she testified that she asked for anonymity, and sent her letter to only three offices.  1 - her attorney, 2 - her member of Congress and 3 - Senator Feinstein.  She only decided to come forward when reporters started ambushing her at work and at home.

Which begs the question; who leaked it to the press?  I doubt that the attorney leaked it, which leaves her member of Congress or Feinstein.  Both, I'm sure, will deny it.  It there is anything for the FBI to investigate, that might be a good place to start.

Democrats are scurrilous. They are truly pissed that Trump is president, and they don't want him to make anymore Supreme Court nominations.  They will do everything in their power to stop him.  So, for political expediency, they drag Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh through the mud.

Scurrilous, I tell you.  Simply disgraceful.

Utter Nonsense

Now, they're accusing Judge Kavanaugh of gang rape.  Yeah, really.

The woman's story has so many holes, it's hard to tell where even a shred of evidence might be found.  They're trotting out these stories every day, and the tales are becoming more and more odious and fabulous.

Today, attorney Michael Avenatti released a sworn affidavit from Julie Swetnick, a D.C. resident and security-clearance holder in relation to her work with the federal government, stating that she attended several house parties in high school with Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge, who Ford says was president during her alleged assault. Swetnick described "abusive and physically aggressive behavior toward girls" from Kavanaugh when he got drunk, "including not taking 'no' for an answer." She alleges that the pair spiked party punch with drugs or grain alcohol to lower girls' inhibitions and says she witnessed boys including Kavanaugh and Judge lining up to gang-rape an inebriated girl.

Wow!  Gang-rape parties and no one ever went to the police.  Somehow, I believe that the police should have been involved.  You can't keep stuff like that secret, even in the early 1980s.

Character assassination and smears are no way to conduct politics.  Let's get this charade over with quickly.

Confirm Kavanaugh quickly. 

About That FBI Report

It would seem that the Democrats wanting an FBI investigation in the Kavanaugh mater should recall the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.  Uncle Joe Biden gets it.



There is still a presumption o innocence in this case, and it still lies with Brett Kavanaugh.  It is up to the accusers to make the case, which they haven't done, even to a preponderance of the evidence, which is the burden in civil cases. 

I understand that Mitch McConnell has hired a female attorney to examine the witnesses during the hearing.  That's good tactics.   I hope that she hammers facts, and utterly destroys "feelings". 

We'll see.  The senate should move to immediately confirm Judge Kavanaugh.

Hang It, Drop It... Run Away

It looks like a heavy mortar, but I can't decide if it's us or them.  We use the 4.2 inch and other forces use 120mm but they work a lot alike.

In this crew drill, something goes horribly wrong.

That ain't good at all.

The Proper Response

Watching this whole social justice brouhaha, where a man can be accused of all manner of evil with no evidence whatsoever, and frankly, it makes me a little disconcerted.  No evidence, baseless accusations, it's this sort of thing that would make a District Attorney throw the whole case out. 

Chuck Grassley has to have a hearing, I suppose, if only to put the lie to this nonsense.  Hopefully, by week's end, the judge will be confirmed, and the Democrats will be crying in their beer. 

Still, I wonder what a good, honest, strong Southern gal would do with something like this, and I"m pretty sure how Belle would handle it.  Belle doesn't tolerate much foolishness, especially when a member of her family is involved.  We'll close the curtain on that, and turn to America's Sweetheart, Busty Ross 

Thanks, Stilton, I needed that.

Hey, Bear

I've seen this pic floating around the internet, ad with the proliferation of black bears i Louisiana it won't be long before it happens to someone nearby.

The problem would be crawling up in your deer stand before daylight and finding a bear in it.  Walking up on a bear in the middle of the day ain't no problem.  Just give hi the road and let him be.

Another Unlikely Kavanaugh Allegation

We find early this morning that another Kavanaugh allegation has come forward, this one from The New Yorker, who gives a fanciful story about a party at Yale.  According to the fanciful tale, a gal named Ramirez was at a party, they were drinking, and Kavanaugh flashed his penis at her.In a room full of people.  Who never saw it

Matt Margolis does the yeoman's work of putting the lie to this tale.   None of the people at the party saw it, everyone who was there denies it ever happened, and even Ramirez's BFF says that she never heard the story.

The unnamed former friend said of Ramirez, “This is a woman I was best friends with. We shared intimate details of our lives. And I was never told this story by her, or by anyone else. It never came up. I didn’t see it; I never heard of it happening.” Ramirez and the unnamed friend were close all through their years at Yale, and said that Kavanaugh remained part of their “larger social circle.” According to the story, this friend of Ramirez initially suggested “that Ramirez may have been politically motivated” in coming forward with the allegation.

When asked why Ramirez chose this time to make her allegation, she said that she thought that it would help bolster the allegations of Christine Ford.

“Ramirez said that she hoped her story would support that of Christine Blasey Ford

It appears that the Democrats are now doubling-down on character assassination and political smears.  That's all they've got.  And, it reinforces my claim that most Democrats are despicable.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Meatloaf

Meatloaf is one of those recipes that is either loved or reviled.  For ourselves, we've played with the recipe and it is still under advisement.  But, we're still playing with it.

For today, we made a bacon wrapped stuffed meatloaf.  Five (5) pounds of 80/20 chuck, we added onions, bell peppers, bread crumbs, egg and milk.  Salt and pepper, o course, Then we laid parchment paper on a cookie sheet, laid macon on the paper, then covered the sheet in a layer of our meat concoction.  Then , covered it in cheese.  You could use mushrooms, sausage, or other yummies.  We only used cheese.  Then, roll the whole thing into a loaf

It went in the smoker an hour ago  I'm running the smoker a little hot, at about 300F and it will be ready in a couple of hours, in time for lunch.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go out to the barn and boil some potatoes for Ouida potatoes.

An Argument for Octagon Barrels

I've been trying to learn to produce low-cost, YouTube videos.  It's a lot harder than it looks.  A little 8-minute video on the argument for octagon barrels took me seven hours.  You do not want to see the out-takes.  But, I feel pretty good about it.  Lots of editing.


Time for a stiff drink.

Dr. Ford's Coast-to-Coast

Hot Air is reporting that one reason Dr. Ford wants to push the hearing back (aside from the obvious delaying tactic) is that she doesn't like airplanes.  Well, okay.  I love airplanes, but I don't like commercial flying because TSA has made it a cattle-herd process complete with squeeze chutes and cattle prods.  Flying commercially these days sucks.

Driving across the country is always an option  But, I learned years ago that driving across the country in as little as 50 hours.  That's right.  50 hours.  Two days.  I learned this interesting fact back in the late '90s when I was doing long-distance motorcycle riding.  The Iron Butt Association documents those rides.

It is entirely possible for Dr.   Ford to start her journey in CA o Friday night, and be in Washington on Sunday night.  Check into a motel, get a few hours sleep, and be at the hearing on Monday.  The question is not whether it is possible, many have already proved that the journey is possible.  The question is whether Dr. Ford is willing to make the effort.

The Iron Butt Association requires that a rider make the whole trip in command of  the motorcycle.  In Dr. Ford's case, it would be easier.  She could have a co-driver help her across our great country.  But, it's entirely possible to leave California on Friday and be in Washington on Sunday. 

Let's Have Some Fun

If you're tired of politics (and who isn't?) lets have some fun with riles.

Courtesy of the Gunny.



Now, don't you feel better?

Veritas Update

Project Veritas is getting air time and the administration is taking it seriously.  From Fox News:



I'll be at the football field in another hour, but I'm happy that O;Keefe is on the job.

TGIF

The political wold has gone batshit crazy over this Kavanaugh thing and the news has descended almost into parody.   Feinstein's office says that they've been receiving some really nasty phone calls and emails.  I bet so.  Others are calling for her censure, which makes a better case than just calling the office and giving her a good cussing.  Her handling of this entire matter has been despicable.

But, it is Friday, and we have a local football game.  So, I'll be in the stands tonight, cheering on the home team and talking politics with some of the other curmudgeons who attend.

Go Panthers!

Well... Just Wow!

The decapitated corpse that was found on a judge’s doorstep in Aurora, Illinois has been identified as belonging to a notorious pedophile who was recently allowed to walk free on bail by the judge, according to reports.

Sounds like someone is sending several messages.

Hat tip; Say Uncle.

The Big News

The big news, obviously, is all Kavanaugh, all the time.  It's interesting that we're supposed to believe a woman who is sure what happened, but is not sure when or where or who was there.

I've been a sex crimes investigator,(and recently got in-serviced on sex crimes)  and I generally want to believe a woman when she tells me that she has been abused.  But, she has to help me build the case.  In the context of Dr. Ford, I feel that she's a pawn of the Democrats, a convenient foil for their ambitions, which is despicable. 

In this particular case it's been... ~35 years?  I'm sure that no physical evidence is left, and so we're left with witness corroboration, which so far appears to be slim.  35 years is a long time to re-visit the crime scene, even if we knew where it was.  So, we're left with the talking heads and endless speculation.  I did watch one video that was pretty good,



Give it a watch.  They bring up some good points.  But, in the end, I'm left with the feeling that Dr. Ford is an unwilling pawn of the Democrats, which makes then especially despicable.

Kavanaugh's Accusers Crumble

Some stunning developments.  It seems that even after Chuck Grassley bent over backwards to give Dr. Ford a chance to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she has now declined.  Byron York, over The Examiner gives a good timeline of the events from the past week.

Evidently, Dr. Ford thinks that next Monday is too early to testify.

Banks suggested Ford is simply not emotionally ready to appear. "Since coming forward, her life has been turned upside down," 

Just exactly what did she think was going to happen?  Dr. Ford is a PhD professor of psychology, so she should at least have an inkling of the processes involved.  Also, she's 51 years old, so she should have had time to process whatever incident may or may not have occurred.  I mean, c'mon.  You make the accusation at the last minute, and you're not willing to testify about it?

 Senator Feinstein, of course, is a complete piece of work.  Now, she's complaining about a rushed process and questioning the veracity of the accuser.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee who has known about the Ford allegation since July, complained of a "rushed process." But Feinstein fed an atmosphere of uncertainty Tuesday when she said of Ford's allegation: "I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."

This is looking more and more like a Democrat kerfluffle to delay the appointment of an esteemed jurist simply because the Democrats don't like his judicial philosophy.  Others are calling this despicable tactic as being reminiscent of Berea and Stalin's tactics, but I don't go that far.

Uncle Joe Wrecks It Again

It looks like goofy Joe Biden may be thinking about a 2020 run at Presdent Trump, and while that might be amusing, it certainly seems like a waste of time and money.

He thinks Trump supporters are "dregs of society".



Yeah, we've been downgraded from deplorables to dregs of society.   Good luck with that, Joe.

Lyman 17

I bought a Sharps reproduction in 2002, and got familiar with it over the course of a couple of years.  Wrote about the foibles of loading black powder here.  After a couple of years, my interest moved to other things, so the Sharps got put in the cabinet and became a safe queen.

Last weekend, younger grandson was asking questions about rifle actions, so we went to the safe and took out some samples.  I grabbed the big Sharps, and during the intervening discussion, I was holding the rifle with the barrel vertical and felt something hit the back of my hand.  The Lyman 17 globe sight had disassembled itself.

We found the sight insert and the locking sleeve and attempted to put it back together again, and found that the locking sleeve is stripped and won't hold tight.  It looks like it's time to order another Lyman 17.  The rifle came out of the box with a nice, silver blade sight, but it really needed a nice globe sight for the best accuracy, and the Lyman fit the bill.  The next time I make an otder from Brownells, I'll have them drop one in the package.

Birds Head Grips

The era of the 1870s-1890s was a remarkable period on many levels, not the least of which was the rapid progression of firearms design.  I've been doing a little bit of research, and found some interesting stuff.  The first one is here:

The 1877 Colt Double Action Revolver
by Ed Buffaloe

Most likely, the Colt Double Action revolver of 1877 was a response to the introduction of the Webley Bulldog pistol in 1872, which was already being imported into the U.S. by late 1873.  The Webley was a double action pistol with a two inch barrel, the original version of which held 5 rounds of .44 center fire ammunition.  It was well received in the U.S. because it was well made, reliable, concealable, and relatively cheap compared to a Colt or a Smith & Wesson, plus it was “self-cocking,” advertised (in later years) as being able to fire five rounds in three seconds.  This gun almost demanded a response from the premier American gun manufacturers.

More at the link.

But, there is a post over at The Firing Line forum on poinnt, and one user, Mizar,  posts an interesting revolver with the following quote:

"Colt Single Action Army manufactured in 1880, and inspected by David Clark, and thus stamped with DFC on frame, bbl, and cylinder. No US markings found, and were thus most likely obliterated." Quote from the Facebook post.

If that is true, we know of t least one example of a Colt 1873 that had birds head grips.   This topic certainly bears more study.

Asked and Answered

Is Dianne Feinstein the Most Corrupt Senator in the United States?

Probably, but that is a pretty high bar.  You realize that we're talking about Democratic senator?

I didn't realize until early this morning, but this whole Kavanaugh debacle smacks of the Anita Hill allegations about Clarence Thomas.  History may not repeat itself, but it surely rhymes.  This is straight out of the Democratic palybook.

Feinstein sat on that letter for months, had plenty of  opportunity to bring it up, and waited till the 11th hour to make the stunning revelation.  The accuser is a piece of work as well.  She also had plenty of time to make those allegations.  From what little I've read, the woman in question is a PhD professor of something-or-other at a California university.   She is certainly educated enough to know that there is a time limit on everything.   In most wedding ceremonies that I've attended, there is an admonition to the witnesses to "speak now, or forever hold your peace".

I understand that some survivors of sexual assault need time to process the injury and indignity of the assault.  It takes time.  Make the complaint as soon as you are  comfortable.  But, know that in the public eye (and in the law) there comes a time when that complain expires.  It's over and done.  We've moved on.

But, regarding Senator Feinstein, she may not be the most corrupt Senator in the US, but she's certainly in the running.  Personally, I find her despicable.

Leadership Matters

Leadership matters.  In the military, in civil politics, in corporate life,  it's all about leadership.

In natural disasters, leadership is especially important.  Getting the electricity turned on, getting the stores re-stocked, and getting people back to work.  That takes leadership.  One recurring success story is the ability of Waffle House to be up and running as soon as possible, to feed people who are hungry, and to restore a sense of normalcy to a situation that is decidedly not normal.    That's leadership.

The CEO of all Waffle House is IN Wilmington. All 5 are open and he has been personally serving 1st responders & thousands of customers. That is how leadership works! Can your boss do your job and would he/she be willing to do it? Let's all eat there soon! 

They've brought in generators to restore service to the stores, they've gotten the people back to work, and they're serving customers and first responders who might not have a hot meal available.   Trust me when I say that in a natural disaster, when the power is out and you're working to help people who desperately need help, it's comforting to know that a hot meal is available.  That Waffle House is able to get up-and-running so quickly is a testament to the quality of the leadership of the organization. 

Sunday Lunch

Yesterday, Belle said that she was craving red beans and rice, so when we ran e errands, we picked up two pounds of good Camellia red beans ad three pounds of Conecu sausage.  Last night we put it all i the crock pot, covered it with water, and let them bubble all night.

Today, we made a pot of rice.

Before we gathered for lunch, Belle made a big cornbread, and the dog took a nap on the shop floor.

After lunch, grandson Lucas said that he'd really like a root beer float for dessert.

That's how we spend Sundays at PawPaw's house.  Cooking, eating, and hanging out.  Now, it's late Sunday afternoon.  Belle is doing laundry and I'm enjoying a vodka tonic.

Why I Carry

There is this piece, over at The Week, where the author opines that police officers in America should not carry guns on a routine basis.  The article sounds like parody in places, but I believe that the guy is serious about his hypothesis.  Or, at lest he believes that he is being serious.

What would happen if American police officers carried whistles instead of guns and dressed in old-fashioned blue uniforms instead of outfits that make them look like they are about to ask us how long we've had these droids? Would the country descend instantly into a chaos of looting, arson, and mass murder? Or would we just go on with our lives, commuting to jobs, raising children, watching sports, whatever — the same routine, albeit with a little bit less of the low-key anxiety that comes with seeing cops with weapons?

He goes on to detail a tragic, police-involved shooting in Dallas,   It was a tragic, bizarre set of circumstances where an officer shot a man who is by all accounts, an innocent bystander.   The officer has been charged, and jailed, and the incident, though regretful and horrific should not be used for any policy discussion.  You can read about it at the link above.  Even from the author's perspective, the facts are strange and likely to not be repeated.  Here's the link, again.

We carry guns because bad guys shoot at is.  The most common officer-involved shooting follows what is basically the rule o 3-3-3.  That is 3 shots, 3 yards, in under 3 seconds.    It's so very fast that sometimes we fail to appreciate that we are in a gunfight until it is over.

One of the best illustrations of this phenomena might be this video, produced by the Los Angeles Police Department as part of an officer Use-Of-Force investigation.    It shows very graphically what a gunfight looks like and the speed at which events unfold.  It also shows the thoroughness with which most agencies conduct their investigations.  Spoiler alert:  this video is graphic and not for the faint-of-heart.



Thus is why the police carry guns.  This is why I carry a gun.  This is also why cases like Heller and McDonald are so vitally important.  The Framers got it right with the 2nd Amendment.  We as Americans have a right to defend ourselves, and this extends to the police.  Gunfights are short, brutal and deadly.  We have the right to protect ourselves, and that's why I carry a gun every day.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going out to the shop to play with a recipe I've been looking at for a while.

Basic Rifles for Self Defense

Good advise from Clint Smith.



I'll just leave it here, in case you  need advise.

No Wonder They Passed.

I'm sure that many of you noticed that Senator Diane Feinstein (hank, spit), the Democrat from California (that doesn't narrow it down much, there are a lot of moonbats in California), sent a letter to the FBI that someone else sent her, regarding some alleged misconduct regarding Brett Kavanaugh, in the dim past.  As details trickle out, it seems that this is about some very vague allegations. 

The FBI passed, and referred the matter to the White House, probably for a raft of very good reasons.  We learn this morning that one of those reasons might have been that Feinstein (hack, spit) redacted the name of the woman before she forwarded the letter to the FBI.

I've been a cop for many years, and I was an investigator in past assignments.  If  an investigator doesn't have a complainant, he doesn't have anything.  If you don't have a victim to interview, you have nowhere to start.  Feinstein gave them nothing.

I suspect that this whole accusation is a huge nothingburger.    From the very instant I learned of it last week, I questioned if from an investigator's standpoint.  What is smacks of is a despicable political hack job trying to derail the nomination of an esteemed jurist from his nomination to the Supreme Court.    I've noticed that over the course of the past several years, these unconscionable tricks are often without merit.  I'll reference the Duke lacrosse team case, and the University of Virginia article in Rolling Stone, just for starters.  Juicy, salacious media events that turned out to be totally without merit.  I'll put this one in the same category.

Feinstein is despicable.  This is nothing but twardry politics.  She couldn't derail Kavanaugh's nomination in committee, she won't he ale to stop it in the Senate, so resorts to a cheap smear campaign. 

Another Harbinger of Autumn

Mowing grass this morning, at the base of the white oak out front, I noticed a red spider lily trying to bloom.

So far, we've had a wet September.  It has, in fact, not rained o this acre o two days of this month.  This day, the 15th, might be the third day this month that we haven't gotten rain.  But, today ain't over yet, so we'll see.

However, spider lilies are a sign of the season, and mine are jumping up.

Finally Friday

Tonight is the home-game opener of the local high school.  They've been on the road for the past three Friday nights, and grandson Zach is a trombone player in the band.    I'll be heading to the stadium shortly.  It's Friday Night Football!

Thankfully, the temps are fairly moderate, at least for Louisiana.  At kickoff, it's predicted to be 87F with 75% humidity.  Not a bad night to sit in the stands.

Several years ago, when I was working as Resource Officer at my alma mater, I spent a lot of nights in the stadium that were much worse.  One night, we had a tropical depression overhead and the coaches declined to call it off.  It was 90 degrees and raining sideways.  Sometimes it would rain from the east, sometimes from the west.  I turned my security detail loose early, simply because, except for the teams, we were the only ones in the stadium.  All of the spectators had wisely un-assed the stadium for drier locations.  Gawd, it was miserable.

Friday Night Football.  I"ll guarantee that no one will take a knee when the band plays the national anthem.

Science

Reproductive hormones related to how attractive a woman smells.  Imagine that!

Researchers at the University of Bern demonstrate that some women smell better to men than others—namely those who are "fittest" for reproduction.

So, there is a difference between men and women, and gender does matter.  Imagine that.    I would also speculate that perfumes or other  artificial scents are designed  to level the playing field.

More on Florence

Hurricane Florence is going to be bad, guys.  Take it from someone who has watched these things his whole life.  This is going to be horrible. 

Having said that the weather weenies are trying to give everyone the worst case scenario, and maybe they are over-blown maybe not.  This is a very dangerous storm.



They're still not sure where this storm is going after she stalls, and the next 24 hours should prove definitive.  She's a bad one, and the Carolinas are in for a whupping.

Stay, Or Go?

Stay or go.  That is always the choice a person makes when faced with a violent weather disaster, like it appears that Hurricane Florence is shaping up to be.  The latest tracks are getting interesting, from a survivors perspective.  Hot Air has all the news.

 At this point, the computer models project that the storm will stall right off the coast and then drift slowly south before turning inland. That means the Carolinas could be facing literally days of winds above 100 mph combined with storm surge and inland flooding at deadly levels. There is a mandatory evacuation order in place for more than a million people. (ABC News)

Faced with this (and we all hope it is not as bad as predicted), the folks in charge are telling everyone to get out.  And, they're telling folks that the first-responders may  not be able to help them.

This brings up the question we wind up dealing with every storm season. How much of an obligation do our first responders have to risk their own lives in an effort to save people from their own stupidity? 

 I've done it both ways, literally stood in the eye of the storm as both a first-responder  and as a willing participant.  And, if we've learned anything from major storm disasters over the past decade, it is these two lessons.  1) First responders may nit be able to get to you.  It may be simply impossible to get to you.  and 2).  Don't expect any help for three (3) days AFTER THE WIND STOPS BLOWING.

If you want to ride out the storm, that is your absolute right, but the practical realities of doing so may put your life at risk.  We're sorry, we really are, but we may not be able to help.  It's a sad reality, but it's something we learned during Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and most recently, Harvey, last year.    Help is not always available, and may in fact be three days away.

Lest We Forget

I was working the night shift at the parish jail, came in and went to sleep.  Phone rang about 9:00.  I didn't get much sleep the rest of the day.

Dumplings

Belle made dumplings for church tonight.  She starts with a chicken, and a bag of all-purpose flour.  If anyone knows anything about dumplings, it's Belle, and she can't tell you the recipe.  She just makes them.  Thin, light, lovely dumplings.

We took a big ol' crock pot, and they didn't last long.  But, they never do.  I don't ever have to worry about leftover chicken and dumplings, there simply is  no such thing around here. 

They didn't last long at the church, but Baptists are a hungry lot.

Three Hurricanes

I don't think I've ever seen a National Hurricane Center map like this one before.  Three hurricanes churning in the Atlantic at the same time.

Florence has been churning out there for a while, but those other two are fairly new.

We'd best keep an eye on this .

Heroes Indeed, Heroes All

It seems that the PC bunch in Texas is recommending that the word "heroic" be struck from the curriculum when Texas students study the Alamo.

A panel advising the Texas State Board of Education on curriculum is recommending that the word "heroic" be dropped from study materials that describe the defenders of the Alamo.
The reason? Apparently, the panel believes that the word "heroic" is a "value-charged word."

It is indeed, a value-charged word.  And entirely appropriate for those brave men who gave their lives in support of freedom.  None of them wanted to be there, but all of them knew it was necessary.  The men of the Alamo knew what awaited them, but intended to stand to the last, to give Houston time to build an army.  That is heroic.

"Many times the Alamo gets boiled down, as it often does in movies, to the Mexicans are the bad guys and the good guys are good Anglos in coonskin caps," Buenger said. He noted that many Mexicans fought alongside Texans in the siege.

Only cursory students of the Texas Revolution would believe that.  In fact, many patriotic Hispanics fought with the Aglos to free Texas.  One of the most prominent was Juan Seguin,   Seguin was at the Alamo during the seige, then was chosen to carry a message to Houston.  After delivering the message, he tried to return to the Alamo, but found that it had already fallen.  He t hen led a cavarly company screening Houston's retreat during the Runaway Scrape, and fought with Houston at San Jacinto.  Juan Seguin is truly a hero of Texas, and deserves to be remembered as such.

The men who fought and died at the Alamo, and the others during the Texas revolution are all heroes, and striking that word from the curriculum is political correctness run amok.

Steak and Gravy

Grandson Lucas told Belle that he wanted steak and gravy for lunch today, and as that was the only request, Belle honored it.

Round steak, seasoned with salt and pepper then cooked overnight in brown gravy mix.  It was fork-tender, served over rice, with creamed corn and yeast rolls on the side.  Belle also made a peach cobbler for dessert served with or without ice cream as you please.

During the peach cobbler phase of the operation, I introduced Lucas to a beverage called a root beer  float.  He considered that an interesting combination of two of his perennial favorites.

The kids have gone home now, the dishes are washed, and we're settling in for the remainder of Sunday afternoon.  I hear thunnder off to the northeast.

Talking Heads

If like me, you've been watching the Kavanugh hearings, you've seen an interesting circus.

I really liked the time that Senator Graham spent in front o the cameras, pointing out the political hypocrisy of the various parties.



Brett Kavanaugh is probably going to be a pretty good associate justice, but you can never tell from the confirmation hearings.

We thought that John Roberts was a conservative, and a rational thinker, but we were wrong about that.

At The Auction

Belle heard that the local auction had a couple of trombones on the block, so we went to look.  With two grandsons who play the 'bone, it seems like a good idea to puck up a horn when the price is right.  We scored both of them tonight, a King 606 and a Conn Artist, for $120.00 cash.  Even for used trombones on Ebay, I think we did really well.

We brought them home to Zach, and he seems pleased.  He's playing the King right ow and likes the slide action very much.  It sounds like a good horn.

We also picked up some old cast iron cookware for the shop.  A large Dutch oven and two 12" skillets.  About $70.00 fr the cast iron, and I think that we did pretty good.  Old cast iron is a joy to work with, even if I have to re-season it.    When I opened the lid on the old Dutch oven, I smelled old oil, which is a good sign.   I've been cooking in cast iron for 50 years and I still don't own enough of it.

We're home now, enjoying a toddy, and it won't be long before we're in bed.

Booker is a Democrat

If you've been paying attention (even peripherally) to the Senate Judiciary hearing on Brett Kavanaugh,  you've seen Senator Corey Booker (D-Not-from-here) expose his disdain for rules and his understanding of Robert's Rules over and over.  It's apparent that he is running for President.

In my experience, people who are having an “I am Spartacus” moment don’t typically have to announce that they are having one. In reality, Booker was transparently jockeying for position in the already-begun invisible 2020 presidential primary.

Booker's problem is that he views everything through the lens of race, and he is convinced (along with the rest of his Democrat colleagues) that Kavanaugh is a stone-racist.  So, Booker makes this big pronouncement that he is releasing a document that  is marked "confidential" to make a point.

Interestingly, the information Booker claimed to break the rules to release only proved that Kavanaugh is, in fact, not a racist. Booker didn’t actually break any rules because the documents in question had already been cleared for release. His stunt backfired.

Yep, the document hasd already been released, and it didn't show that Kavanaugh is a racist.  Quite the opposite.   Because, you see, Corey Booker is a Democrat.

Here in the Deep South, the Democratic Party used to me mainstream, but many folks who know how to think independently left the Democratic party when it became apparent that it was the party of the plantation.  Another appellation of the south is the term "Bless his heart" which we reserve for folks who do silly things.  One that I've heard lately down here is "Oh, he's a Democrat" , which means that the things a person says or does may not necessarily conform to reality.

Bless Corey's heart, I believe that he is a Democrat.

We Already Do That

Seen over at Wirecutter's.

We 'do that.  It's called the Social Security Number, which you'll need come tax time for the child care credit.  Of course, I'm pretty sure that Social Security requires a gender identity before they will assign a number.

Oh, and gender is decided at conception.  It is not subject to interpretation.

Finished POST Training

This year, the Louisiana Council on Law Enforcement (LCLE) mandated that every certified officer in the state of Louisiana complete online courses on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.  Four (4) units of sexual assault, and five (5) units on domestic violence.  These are mandatory in Louisiana to maintain POST (Peace Officers Standard Training) certification this year.

Over the past three days, I completed them all.    It was a good review, even if it had a certain amount of academics thrown in.  Academic thought is useful to practitioners, ad this was geared to street cops.

In the mid-90s I ran a sex offender unit for the state Division of Probation and Parole.  I was responsible for all the sex offenders in a five parish area of northwest Louisiana.  This training, while useful, brought back a lot of old, sad memories that I really wish I could forget.  During the last session this evening, I mixed a stiff drink.  Now, it's done and I'm once again fully POST certified, even if I feel just a bit soiled.  Dirty, as it were.

Now, to bed.  Tomorrow morning I"ll pull on my boots and do it all again.

Aw, C'mon, Levi

Levi Strauss, that is.  The giant of the denim industry, (and who's pants have covered my butt for many decades) has teamed up with Bloomberg, seeking "sensible" gun initiatives.

American denim giant Levi Strauss & Co. announced Tuesday that it is launching a series of new initiatives to benefit groups working to prevent gun violence.

I wonder how that is going to play out for them? I know how it plays out for me.

 Levi Strauss’s CEO and President Chip Bergh wrote in Fortune on Tuesday that the company “simply cannot stand by silently when it comes to issues that threaten the very fabric of the communities where we live and work.”

Belle and I were looking at my wardrobe the other day, and she mentioned that it was time for me to get a couple of pair of new jeans.    I'm tough on jeans, and I'm losing a little weight, and it's time to pick up several new pair. 

It wasn't so long ago that Levi Strauss supported the Second Amendment, even going so far as to include a gun in its advertisements.



I guess I'll be wearing Wrangler jeans from now on.

This Is A Very Bad Idea.

Mixing meth and wasp spray.  Yeah, really.  It's a horribly bad idea.

AKRON, Ohio (WHBC) – It’s called “wasping” or “hot shot”.
It’s cutting hornet and wasp spray with meth to make for a “combination high”.

In my experience, folks who do meth ain't the brightest bulbs on the tree, but mixing it with wasp spray must kill brain cells at an astounding rate.

I'm just sayin'.

Questions in Comments

Dave asks, in comments:

How does it compare to the big grill/griddle in an Army chow hall?

Honestly, I had those griddles in mind when I bought this one.  I don't recall the actual dimensions of those griddles, but I think this one compares favorably.  I bought the 36" Blackstone, which has 720 square inches of cooking surface.   I'm still learning to use it.  Those four burners throw a lot of heat and this thing gets hot really quickly.  Generally, if I fire it up, and set all the burners on LOW, then in about 10 minutes I'm ready to cook whatever I want to cook.

I remember a cook at our Bde DFAC when I was an LT, he could effectively cook as many omelettes and fried eggs as he could fit on the cooking surface. And he was just a PFC.

Yeah, me too.  Not the same PFC, but one like him.    What I call the Standard Army Breakfast was a wondrous thing to behold, and probably some of my fondest memories.  Eggs-to-order, hasbrowns, SOS, pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham, french toast, fresh fruit,  the list was endless, and a soldier could have any or all of it.

That memory was one of the main reasons I bought the griddle.  Now, I just have to learn how to use it.

Ask Why

Seen on the Book of Face

That's a question I've asked myself repeatedly. 

Gordon, Huh?

That storm is spinning up in the Gulf, and they've named it Gordon.  This thing bears watching.

We;ll keep a weather eye on it.

Monday Training

Because I'm not physically at work today, I decided to spend it cleaning up a bunch of online training I'm responsible for.  Louisiana POST council certifies training for peace officers in the state, and more of that is done online lately, except for some things that can't be done online, like firearms training and defensive tactics practicals.

I got started this morning and spent about seven (7) hours online. exploring such topics as Ethics, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, and several modules on Domestic Violence.    I think that I'm through, but I'll have to cal the training gurus at my agency tomorrow and make sure that I've done everything that is required of me.

During lunch, Belle and I went out to the shop, heated up the Blackstone grill and made some Spanish Omelets.  Three eggs each, with ham, cheese, and salsa inside.

That big grill cooks omelets in a hurry.  You'd best have all your ingredients at hand when you get stared, or you'll run out of time in a hurry.

After lunch, I came back inside ad finished the ordeal of online training.  It's not much of a labor day holiday, but it was raining outside, so at least I made use of the time.

Potential Cyclone Seven

It appears that there is a disturbance in the slot between Cuba ad Florida that the NHC is watching.  It isn't a storm yet, but these things have a way of spinning up quickly.

It looks like it might run right over us.  We'll keep an eye on this thing until we can determine its intent.

Sunday, Blessed Sunday

Cool ad wet this morning, it's a glorious, rainy Sunday.  Temps are in the low 80s  I'll take that over temps approaching 100. 

Yesterday afternoon Belle and I were talking about what to cook for Sunday lunch and I mentioned that I was hankering or white beans.  We soaked a couple of pounds of great northern beans and found the ham-bone from Easter still in the freezer.  A little salt, and the crock-pot ad they cooked all night.

In another hour, we'll make a pot of rice and some cornbread.  Belle wanted a slice of ham to go with her beans so I'll put some ham steaks on the griddle just before she's ready to eat.

Finally PC

It seems that I'm finally politically correct.  After years of dumb, uneducated, deep South redneck hick, stubbornly clinging to my Bible and my guns, it seems that the language police have come around to my way of thinking.

I shit you not.  The southern second-person-plural "y'all" is now the gender neutral preferred term for indicating a group of people.  Yeah, really.

I’ve heard that people weirdly hesitate to use the word because they would feel like culture vultures, appropriating either black slang or the language of the South. And yet this is one of the only words where that kind of hesitation seems to hold any sway... If anybody gets defensive over white northerners using  y’all, it’s most likely because those same white northerners teased them for using it in the past.

So, look, I"m glad y'all are finally coming around to my way of thinking.  It's for us for generations.  You're welcome.

September 1st

Dawn broke cool (relatively speaking) in central Louisiana this morning.    As I type this, it's only 80 degrees outside, with a cooling breeze.  I saw a flight of teal early this morning, which is the harbinger of cooler weather.   Teal are the first migrants to come down.  They were headed toward Catahoula lake, a big mecca for migrating ducks and the fellows who chase them.

Also, while mowing grass this morning, I saw the first spider lilies.  Several years ago I found some white ones, and transplanted them along the fence line. 

The red ones under the oak tree should be coming up in another couple of weeks, which are a more reliable indicator of autumn, and it is only September 1st, so the weather might be bluffing us, but I did see teal ad spider lilies on the same day.